Morales to Head Office of Diversity at CSM

The College of Southern Maryland announces the selection of Linda Morales as executive director of diversity and equal opportunity.

I am excited to come to CSM where the colleges leadership demonstrates a solid and clear commitment toward enhancing cultural diversity through a workforce and student body that reflect the Southern Maryland population, said Morales.

Morales most recent position was as the founding director of the Multicultural Resource Center at State University of New York at Binghamton from 1999 to 2008. Prior to that, she served as its assistant director of campus activities, student multicultural programs advisor and as a part-time instructor. At Potsdam College of the State University of New York, Morales served as senior educational opportunity program academic advisor. Her career in higher education began at Fredonia College of the State University of New York in 1991 when she served as the interim associate director, academic advising and multicultural programs.

With more than 17 years of experience in higher education, Morales brings a strong foundation and commitment to diversity in education and intercultural communication. She holds a bachelors in communication/media and a masters in English from Fredonia College, SUNY. As a multicultural educator, Morales has maintained a focus on communications and intercultural relations in higher education.

Morales has attended the Intercultural Communication Institute in Portland, Ore., where she received her training and qualification to administer and interpret Intercultural Development Inventory (ICDI). Morales is one of 4,000 IDI administrators worldwide. She has also completed a master workshop on Intercultural Conflict Style in June 2006 and is finishing her apprenticeship in mediation in Southern Maryland.

In addition, Morales has presented and conducted numerous diversity educational workshops and trainings on intercultural communications and intercultural conflict at the state, regional and national level for healthcare professionals, higher education employees, human services agencies, K-12 educators and law enforcement departments.

From 2002 to 2004, Morales served on the inaugural national advisory board of National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education.

Morales is a member of several professional organizations including the American College Personnel Association, the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Multicultural Educators and the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research. She is now a member of the Washington Regional Task Force Against Campus Prejudice.

Her community involvement has included serving on the Broome County Urban League Board of Directors and the Childrens Home of Wyoming Conference, Binghamton, NY.

Morales is mother to Joel, 22, and Andrew, 19, who both attend college in New York.

I am looking forward to providing a culturally diverse, welcoming and success-driven environment for employees and students. I am very pleased with the high quality of professionalism and friendliness of my new colleagues, Morales said.

CSM has been recognized for the fifth year with the Workplace Excellence Award by the Alliance for Workplace Excellence for its dedication and commitment to employee work-life initiatives. CSM received the 2008 Equity Award by the Association of Community College Trustees for its leadership in fostering an inclusive environment on campus and in the community for people of color and for minority advances among students and employees. For information about employment opportunities, visit CSM online at www.csmd.edu/Employment/ or call 301-934-7700, or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499 or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7700.